Conjunto Jardin in ‘Planet Siqueiros Pe“a’

The Los Angeles-based band Conjunto Jardin featuring sisters Libby and Cindy Harding will perform at the tenth 2009 installment of the “Planet Siqueiros Pe“a” series at the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC), 685 Venice Blvd., Venice from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, December 19th.

Conjunto Jardin performs son jarocho, an energetic style of Mexican folk music that comes from the state of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. Son jarocho’s roots are grounded in Mexico’s three cultures — Spanish, African and indigenous.

The sister musicians play the traditional jarana, a small strummed rhythm guitar, and requinto, a four-string lead guitar plucked with a long bone pick.

Other members of the group include keyboardist Gary Johnson, who also plays donkey jawbone, tambourine and jarana; master Peruvian cajonero Gino Gamboa; bass player Rick Moors; and Jorge Mijangos, who sings and plays jarana, Leona, Cuban trés and percussion.

The group has received an L.A. Treasures Award from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

In conjunction with the live presentation of music, SPARC will host its annual holiday prints sale, featuring a collection of socially-relevant prints and cards produced in-house by the UCLA/SPARC Cesar Chavez Digital Mural Lab, as well as a collection of books and handcrafted products.

A portion of all purchases will benefit SPARC’s mission to preserve and produce public art works in Los Angeles and the campaign to Save L.A. Murals.

“Planet Siqueiros Pe“a” at SPARC provides a monthly blend of socially conscious traditional world music, contemporary musical styles and spoken word. The series is named after the famed Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siquieros.

Tickets are $10. For ticket reservations, tickets@sparcmurals.org/.

For more information, www.sparcmurals.org/, or (310) 822-9560 ext. 15.